Rotary engine.



- PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907. R. 6: H. S. POULTON.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED r23. 6. 1907.

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No. 866,808. 7 PATBNTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

' R. & H. S. POULTON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

urucnron rum) rm. 6. 1901.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT POULTON AND HENRY S. POULTON, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed February 6, 1907. Serial No. 356,114.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT POULTON and HENRY STEPHEN POULTON, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines; and we hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to a rotary engine comprising a revoluble piston hub and piston, and a revoluble abutment roller engaging with the piston hub having a piston chamber to receive the piston when it comes into position with it.

The invention further relates to the particular construction of the steam inlet ports through which the steam is admitted to the cylinder between the piston and the place where the abutment roller contacts the piston hub.

The invention further relates to the means whereby the steam inlet ports are closed to cut off the supply of steam to the cylinders when the piston has completed a pro-selected part of its revolution to permit of the expansive force of the steam admitted to the cylinder being utilized to cause the piston to complete its revolution and obtain a high engine speed with a low steam consumption. I

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had tothe following description and to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l, is a side elevation of the rotary engine. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the rotary engine looking at it from the top. Fig. 2, is a vertical section of the rotary engine. Fig. 3, is a vertical section taken at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig.4, is a longitudinal section of the abutment roller. Fig. 5, is a cross section of the abutment roller on the line aa Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is an end view-of the abutment roller, showing the steam inlet port. Fig. 7, is a view of part of the piston cylinder showing the shape of the steam exhaust port. Fig. 8, is a vertical section of one of the sides of the engine casing.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts througl1 out the specification and drawings.

The engine casing a is provided with two cylindrically shaped chambers a, and b, preferably of substantially the same diameters communicating with one another at the middle of the engine, with the circles of their inner surfaces overlapping as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Extending transversely through the chamber a, is the engine shaft 0, upon which is fixed the piston hub d and radially carried by the piston hub 01, is the piston e which extends to the inner surface of the chamher a, and forms with it a substantially steam tight contact. Contained within the chamber 1), is the abutment roller g and extending transversely through the center of the chamber 1), and abutment roller g, is the shaft f. The abutment roller 9 is fixed on the shaft f, so that it, and the shaft will unitedly revolve. The abutment roller g contacts the inner surface of that part of the circumference of the chamber b, below its horizontal axis to form a steam tight contact therewith. Above the horizontal axis of the abutment roller, the inner surface'of the chamber b is concentric with the surface of the abutment roller, but of greater diameter to provide a clearance between the abutment roller and itself to insure the free revolution of the former in addition to reducing the frictional contact of the working parts, and relieving the abutment roller of unnecessary wear.

The relative diameters of the abutment roller g and the piston hub d, are such as to enable them to contact one another and form a rolling engagement to prevent the steam completing a circle of revolution within the chamber a, as hereinafter described, and the abutment roller and piston hub extend from the inner surface of one side 7c of the engine casing to the inner surface of the other side to form a revolving steam tight contact therewith and retain the admitted steam within the chamber a, between the place of contact and the piston until the latter passes the exhaust port m.

The length of the piston e is less than that of the abutment roller, and to enable the piston e, to clear the abutment roller, the latter is formed with a piston chamber h, with closed ends h. The piston chamber h receives the piston as the latter approaches the abutment roller and permits it to pass the same. The length and depth of the piston chamber h slightly exceed the same dimensions of the piston e, and the width of the piston chamber is suflicient to insure the free entry and exitof the piston during its revolution. Formed through each end to the peripheral surface of the abutment roller 9, in the vicinity of the piston chamber h, is a steam inlet port 1'. The steam inlet ports 2', during each revolution of the abutment roller register with the steam ways j, formed in the sides is, of the engine casing.

By making the piston of less length than the abutment roller the piston chamber can be formed withv closed ends to prevent the entry of steam from the steam ways j into the piston chamber as the latter passes them, and thus materially economize the steam consumption. To compensate for the difference between the length of the piston and the abutment roller, the inner surfaces of the sides is are formed with annular projections z opposite the chamber a which extend into the latter to contact the piston hub and piston. Formed in the top surfaces of the projections z are curved recesses z to receive the abutment rollers.

In the top of the engine casing is a steam way Z with which the steam ways 9' communicate. The steam way i l is fed from the boiler by any ordinary valve controlled steam pipe, which it is not necessary to illustrate and describe in the present application.

The steam inlet ports 1' are so positioned in the abutment roller that they will deliver steam into the chamber a, when the piston chamber h has cleared the opening existing between the chambers a, and b, and by the employment of two inlet ports, formed in the opposite ends of the abutment roller, an equal pressure is maintained on both ends of the abutment roller, and the latter is substantially relieved of the end thrust action of the steam on it.

The abutment roller 9, and the piston are positioned so that the piston a, will enter on each revolution of ports within the piston chamber. During the forward revolution of the piston, as indicated by arrow in Fig. 2, the abutment roller revolves in the direction indicated by arrow, in the same figure, and when the piston chamber h, has passed beyond the opening existing between the chambers a, and b, the steam inlet ports i, come into position with the steam ways 3', and receive steam therefrom which they deliver into the chamber a, between the piston e, and the place where the abutment roller g, contacts the piston hub d. The abutment roller g and the piston continue their revolution while the steam inlet ports 1' are admitting steam from the steam ways j. When the revolution of the abutment roller g has carried the steam inlet ports past the steam ways 9', the supply of steam to the chamber a, is cut off by the presentation of the ends of the abutment roller to the steam ways. The steam which has been admitted to the chamber expands against the piston and the place of contact between the abutment roller and the piston hub, and drives the piston forward until it reaches the exhaust port m through which it exhausts as the piston passes that port. The exhaust port m is formed through the engine casing with its inner end adjacent to the place where the piston commences to enter the piston chamber so that the full expansive force of the steam canbe utilized to move the piston nearly a complete revolution, but the exhaust port can be located at any convenient part of the chamber a, other than that stated.

The inner end of the exhaust port m, is of a substantially elliptical shape extending nearly across the entire width of the chamber a and of a narrow depth as compared with its length so that it will be of a sufficient area to effect the instantaneous exhaust of the steam without presenting a deep opening for the piston to pass. It is estimated that by means of this construction, and without super heating or re-heating the steam, a speed of at least three thousand revolutions per minute can be attained with a steam consumption of less than twenty-five pounds per horse power per hour.

The abutment roller and the piston hub each consist of a single piece so that there will be no loose parts to get out of order or retard the operation of the engine. To cause the united revolution of the abutment roller and piston, at the same rate of speed, the engine shaft 0, is fitted on the outer side of the engine casing with a spur wheel 0, and the shaft f, is fitted with a corresponding spur wheel p, the teeth of which mesh with the spur wheel 0. Fitted into the bottom of the chamber a is a valve controlled drip pipe q, to effect the discharge of the condensation from the chamber.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A rotary engine comprising an engine casing, a cylindrically shaped steam chamber therein, a piston hub centrally within the steam chamber, a piston carried by the piston hub contacting the inner surface of the steam chamber, a cylindrical chamber adjoining the steam chamber and communicating therewith, an abutment roller contained within the second mentioneo chamber and extending'into the steam chamber to form a rolling contact with the piston hub, and of greater length than the piston, a piston chamber in the abutment roller, to receive the piston and permit it to pass the abutment roller during itsrevolution, the ends of the piston chamber being closed to prevent the admission of the steam endwise therein, steam inlet ports formed through the abutment roller from its end to its peripheral surface, steam ways in the sides of the engine casing with which the steam inlet ports communicate as the abutment roller revolves, and a steam exhaust port formed through the engine casing between the place where the steam is admitted to the steam chamber, and the place where the piston enters the piston chamber.

2. A rotary engine comprising an engine casing, a cylin' drically shaped steam chamber therein, a piston hub, centrally within the steam chamber, a piston carried by the piston hub contacting the inner surface of the steam chamber, a cylindrical chamber adjoining the steam chamher and communicating therewith, an abutment rollercontained within the second mentioned chamber and extending into the steam chamber to form a rolling contact with the piston hub, and of greater length than the piston, a piston chamber in the abutment roller to receive the piston, and

permit it to pass the abutment roller during its revolution, the ends of the piston chamber being closed to prevent the admission of the steam endwise therein, steam inlet ports formed through the abutment roller from its ends to its peripheral surface, steam ways in the sides of the engine casing with which the steam inlet ports communicate as the abutment roller revolves, a steam exhaust port formed through the engine casing between the place where the steam is admitted to the steam chamber, and the place where the piston enters the piston chamber, and means for causing the united revolution of the abutment roller with the piston.

3. A rotary engine comprising an engine casing, a cylindrically shaped steam chamber therein, a piston hub centrally within the steam chamber, a piston carried by the piston hub contacting the inner surface of the steam chamber, a cylindrical chamber adjoining the steam chamber and communicating therewith, an abutment roller contained within the second mentioned chamber, and extending into the steam chamber to form a rolling contact with the piston hub and of greater length than the piston, a piston chamber in the abutment roller to receive the piston and permit it to pass the abutment roller during its revolution, the ends of the piston chamber being closed to prevent the admission of the steam endwise therein, steam inlet ports formed through the abutment roller from its ends to its peripheral surface, steam ways in the sides of the engine casing with which the steam inlet ports communicate as the abutment roller revolves, a steam exhaust port formed through the engine casing be tween the place where the steam is admitted to the steam chamber and the place where the piston enters the piston chamber, and annular projections on the inner faces of the engine casing sides extending into the steam chamber to compensate for the difference between the length of the abutment roller and the piston, said projections having curved recesses to receive the ends of the abutment roller.

4. A rotary engine comprising an engine casing, a cylindrically shaped steam chamber therein, a piston hub centrally within the steam chamber, a piston carried by the piston hub contacting the inner surface of the steam chamber, a cylindrical chamber adjoining the steam chamher and communicating therewith, an abutment roller contained within the second mentioned chamber, and extending into the steam chamber to form a rolling contact with the piston hub and of greater length than the piston, a piston chamber in the abutment roller, to receive the piston and permit it to pass the abutment roller during its revolution, the ends of the piston chamber being closed to prevent the admission of the steam endwise therein, steam inlet ports formed through the abutment roller from its ends to its peripheral surface, steam Ways in the sides of the engine casing with which the steam inlet ports communicate as the abutment roller revolves, a steam exhaust port formed through the engine casing between the place where the steam is admitted to the steam chamber and the place where the piston enters the piston chamber, annular projections on the inner faces of the engine casing sides extending into the steam chamber to compensate for the difference between the length of the abutment roller and the piston, said projections having curved recesses to receive the ends of the abutment roller, and means for causing the revolution of the abutment roller unitedly with the piston.

5. A rotary engine comprising an engine casing, a cylindrically shaped steam chamber therein, a piston hub centrally within the steam chamber, a piston carried by the piston hub contacting the inner surface of the steam chamber, a cylindrical chamber adjoining the steam chamber and communicating therewith, an abutment roller contained within the second mentioned chamber and extending into the steam chamber to form a rolling contact with the piston hub, and of greater length than the piston, a piston chamber in the abutment roller to receive the piston, and permit it to pass the abutment roller during its revolu tion the ends of the piston chamber being closed to pre vent the admission of the steam endwise therein, steam inlet ports formed through the abutment roller from its ends to its peripheral surface, steam ways in the sides of the engine casing with which the steam inlet ports communicate as the abutment roller revolves, a steam exhaust port formed through the engine casing between the place where the steam is admitted to the steam chamber, and the place where the piston enters the piston chamber, said exhaust port being of a substantially elliptical shape and extending nearly across the steam chamber and of a narrow width in comparison to its length, and annular projections on the inner faces of the engine casing sides extending into the steam chamber to compensate for the difference between the length ofthe abutment roller and the piston, said projection having curved recesses to receive the ends of the abutment roller.

6. A rotary engine comprising an engine casing, a cylindrically shaped steam chamber therein, a piston hub centrally within the steam chamber, a piston carried by the piston hub contacting the inner surface of the steam chamber, a cylindrical chamber adjoining the steam chamber and communicating therewith, an abutment roller contained within the second mentioned chamber, and extending into the steam chamber to form a rolling contact with the piston hub and of greater length than the piston, a piston chamber in the abutment roller to receive the piston, and permit it to pass the abutment roller during its revolution the ends of the piston chamber being closed to prevent the admission of the steam endwis e therein, steam inlet ports formed through the abutment roller from its ends to its peripheral surface, steam ways in the sides of the engine casing with which the steam inlet ports communicate as the abutment roller revolves, a steam exhaust port formed through the engine casing between the place where the steam is admitted to the steam chamber, and the place where the piston enters the piston chamber, said exhaust port being of a substantially elliptical shape and extending nearly across the steam chamber and of a narrow width in comparison to its length, annular projections on the inner faces of theengine casing sides extending into the steam chamber to compensate for the ditference between the length of the abutment roller, and the piston, said projections having curved recesses to receive the ends of the abutment roller, and means for causing the revolution of the abutment roller unitedly with the piston.

Toronto, January 18th, 1907.

ROBERT POULTON.

' HENRY S. POULTON. Signed in the presence 01' CHAS. H. RICIIES,

H. L. TRIMBLE. 

